Do Not Worry...

~ Do Not Worry ~

“See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Matthew 6:28-33

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I started painting again a few months ago, and I'm hoping to post a few that I really love.  I have several ideas running around in my head that I plan to paint soon.  Just thought I'd share one of them with you.

This is actually only a portion of the painting I created that I could scan, but overall I am pleased my scanner could capture this much of the pic!  The scripture above is the one the Lord gave to me when He gave me the idea for this painting.  He has definately had me on a creative journey, and I can't wait to see where it leads.

I chose this particular picture to show everyone first, because I thought it would be an excellent reminder as Christmas approaches.  Sometimes I believe our worries carry the beauty of the holiday away, and we have the opportunity daily to lay all those cares at His feet.  Enjoy the season!

Blessings,

Lori

Pictures from Art Camp

Here are the pictures of Art Camp I promised!  I would have had more shots, but I was too busy running around like a "chicken-with-it's-head-chopped-off" to get too many pictures.  But this shows everything we did this week.

   Madison the Fearless Table Leader!            "Tie-Dye" Hats

             Snakes Alive!" T-Shirts        Gumball Machine, Clay Pens,

                                             Sand & Sea Cross and 

                                                Weaving Project

Hot Air Balloon Papier-Mache Project

All in all the kids did a wonderful job and the parents were impressed with all their efforts.  I really did try to make it fun for them, in spite of my misgivings.  I really think they learned a lot, and I did too! 

Blessings,

Lori

My Balloon Popped!

Art Camp is finally over!  Yesterday was crazy...we finished the papier-mache projects.  For the last layer we used a mixture of water and glue and it was a MESS.  The kids kept coming up to me asking if they could go to the bathroom to wash their hands, and they weren't finished with their projects yet.  They hated having sticky fingers.  One of my "Star" students accidentally popped her balloon, and because it wasn't completely dry it fell to pieces.  I could tell she was trying to hold it all together emotionally.  We ended up stuffing it with newspaper to give it back its shape, but it didn't work very well.  She was so disappointed.  I really don't like papier-mache.  (I feel like a broken record...Have I said that before???)   The parents started to come and we weren't finished attaching the "baskets" to the bottoms of the balloons.  I didn't have helpers at each table so I was going around helping the kids as much as possible. The day was completely chaotic.

I had a small breakdown yesterday before Art Camp even began, and one of our children's pastors put his arms around me and prayed for peace.  He's such a good friend, and I love him dearly.  It did help me to refocus.  With everything going on during this week I was so overwhelmed.  I felt like I should have been at the hospital with Mom, while at the same time I needed to finish my obligation to my Art Camp Kids.  Thank God Josie helped me this week...I don't think I would have made it without her.  I was promised table leaders at each table for each day, but that didn't happen.  I understand it is hard getting volunteers to commit for a whole week.  I should never have had that many children in Art Camp to begin with.

Madison had a nightmare last night that caused her to wake up screaming.  She said there was paper stuck all over her room...horrible things that scared her.  (I swear I'm not making this up!)  Just a small indication of how our week went.  The poor child was probably dreaming about papier-mache.  She ended up sleeping in my room last night.  She begged me to never do papier-mache again on the way home yesterday.  No worries there! 

 Praise the Lord...Art Camp is OVER! 

I went to see Mom yesterday and she looked a little better than the day before.  She said she sat up in her chair for the first time, and actually spent most of the day there.  But when she tried to get back in the bed (on her own...can you believe it!) she became tangled in her IV lines and had to call the nurse to help her.  Luckily this time they responded.  Her NG tube that goes down her nose into her throat is really making her throat sore, and hopefully when Dr. Squires comes today he'll have it removed.  She told me that as soon as she could have one she wants a Frostie from Wendy's.  At this point I'd bring her the moon if she asked for it.

Now that life is not so crazy anymore I can concentrate on getting Mom well and out of the hospital, and prepare for the upcoming Homeschool Convention in Sumter, SC.  I'm so excited to be going out of town for a weekend!  We have 7 ladies going from our church group, and 1 newbie that I'm excited to meet.  We always have a great time when we're together, so I'm looking forward to the whole trip.  I was reflecting today on how God has brought us so close together, and praising Him all over again that we don't have to journey through Homeschooling (or life!) alone. 

Chuck Swindoll asked his sister Luci what she thought the best feeling in the world was.  She didn't say love, or joy, or anything you'd expect her to say as a Christian.  Her reply:  The feeling of "Relief".  At this point in my life I would have to agree.

Breathing a Sigh of Relief,

Lori

Day Four Down...One to Go!

Art Camp went well yesterday.  The kids worked on their "snake" shirts, which is sort of like tie-dye.  You prepare the shirt by tying it up like you would for tie-die, but we used fabric markers to color the shirts (a lot less mess).  There's still papier-mache paste all over the carpet in the room we're using, so I didn't want to add dye to that.  After the kids colored in their shirts I allowed them to untie them.  The designs turned out really awesome!  They wanted to add their names and other designs, so I let them do that as well.  I collected them once they were done so I could throw them in the dryer for 30 minutes to set the color.

We'll finish the hot air balloon project we started on Monday in class today.  They used so much paste when they put them together they are all hard as bricks.  I'll let them pop the balloon inside, then glue the colored paper squares on the outside to finish them off.  Then we'll finish the bottom of the cups and attach them to the balloons with yarn.  During this time I'll have to collect all the projects and separate them by child in the other room.  I've told them all week they could take their projects home today, and we've completed quite a few.  They LOVED the Gumball Machine project we did yesterday.  Every one of the kids drug their parents over to the table where they were drying to show their project off.  We should have our gumballs to put in each glass bowl today before they go home.

I came home last night exhausted.  Quinn and I tag-teamed dinner, and I layed down on the couch for a minute to rest.  We ate dinner together as a family and then I headed out to see Mom at the hospital.  She said the stockings they had her wearing (to keep from getting blood clots) were pinching her, and she couldn't get anyone to fix them for her.  The nurses are doing the best they can, but like everywhere else in the country they are woefully understaffed.  While I was there one of her machines started beeping, and I had to call them twice to get someone to pay attention to it.  When I left about 90 minutes later I was walking toward the elevators with tears in my eyes.  I felt so torn between staying and going home to help Quinn with the kids before bed.  The timing for doing Art Camp could not have been worse with her going into the hospital.  But I am trusting God to see us all through this week.  After today I'll be able to spend more time with her.  She's still in a lot of pain, and is having problems with gas bubbles in her stomach.  She'll drift off to sleep, then get hit with another spasm of pain.  I hate seeing her like this, and there's nothing I can seem to do to ease her pain.  She's currently sharing a room with another woman, and she had about 6 people visiting her last night all at the same time.  It made for a lot of noise.  Mom just had me and Dan come visit last night.  I wish she had a church home and had friends to pop in and surprise her with a visit.  I think it might make her feel better.  Something more to pray about I suppose.

I'll have the pics uploaded of Art Camp sometime over the weekend.  I can't wait to share the finished projects with my blogger friends!  Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement throughout this week.

Blessings,

Lori

Day Three Down...Two to Go!

Josie made it through Art Camp yesterday and fortunately had plenty of help.  The kids finished their shell crosses, then she showed them how to do the weaving project.  It was too difficult a project for them.  I think if we had done the woven coaster project we would have been better off.  The kids range in ages from 6 to 12, and it is difficult coming up with art projects to be creative enough for the older kids, but easy enough for the younger children.  At 3:30 they had to stop and change gears with coloring pages.  Josie told me they got about 1/8th through the project and had had enough.  I plan on sending the boards home with them so they can work on the project with a parent.

Somehow I'd forgotten how much time it takes to prepare for Art Camp.  I was up until 1am cutting fabric strips and making an example for the kids to see of the finished weaving project.  I was listening to Andrew Wommack's series on prayer on my mp3 player, and before I knew it 1:00am had come!

Today's projects are snake shirts and gumball machines.  After this week is over, I plan on posting pictures of all the projects the kids have completed.  They loved the pen project and the shell crosses, and the hat project we did at the beginning was a big hit.  So far the only complaints I've received is about the papier-mache and the weaving.  One is extremely messy, and the other was a bit too difficult.  But all in all they're learning, and they'll have cool things to take home.

Mom's surgery went well yesterday.  Her doctor called it an "Ostomy Take-Down".  Sounds hostile to me!  (You know a man probably named this procedure...)  Dr. Squires was very pleased with the operation, and I'm praying she'll have a quick recovery.  Thank you for the prayers!  It was a looooooonnnnnnggg day yesterday, but God is good and He saw us through it.

Blessings,

Lori

Day Two Down & Not a Frown!

To God be the Glory!  I have the most incredible friends.  They love me, pray for me, and encourage me when I'm at my lowest.  I appreciate them so much.

Day two of Art Camp was actually orderly and a lot less stressful than yesterday.  We did layer two of our papier-mache project this morning, and it went as well as could be expected.  When I arrived I noticed that the balloons were not all dry, and I'm praying that they are dry by Friday for the final touches.  We have one more layer to complete on Thursday, then the finishing touches on Friday.

After the papier-mache we did today I had the kids take a break and grab a snack. Fortunately the mess was not as bad as yesterday and I was able to clean up before the next craft.  Then we made Fimo Clay pens (which I'm cooking in the oven as I write), and painted the bases for our Sand & Shell crosses.  They'll glue the shells on the crosses tomorrow morning as soon as they come in and then Josie will teach them how to weave.  I have a lot of fabric to tear into strips tonight!  We'll be making woven placemats tomorrow.  I will not be there (I'll be taking my mom to the hospital for abdominal surgery...please pray!  Her name is Stella...), so I want her to have a mess-free day with the kids since she's my Fearless Substitute!  :0)

I'm so tired!  But a lot less frustrated than last night.  Thanks so much for the prayers dear friends.  They worked!

Blessings,

Lori

Stickin' It to Me

I volunteered to do Art Camp again this year at my church.  I didn't pray about it first, I just agreed to do it, and now I'm praying that God will see me through it!  Kinda putting the cart before the horse isn't it?  It has been a difficult process from the get-go, and I've been told to anticipate 30 children.  That's a whole "classroom" of kids!  Our first craft today:  Paper Mache.  No, this was NOT my idea.  It was strongly suggested by the children's ministry.  Now, any of you who have done Paper Mache know it is extremely messy, and takes forever to dry.  I guess we'll just work on it each day this week, and hopefully it will be ready to paint by Friday.  And now, I have to post this so I can look back and remember what I said:

I'M NEVER DOING ART CAMP AGAIN!

I love kids, I love art, but I think that I'd like to focus more on our homeschool kids (and my own!) in the future.  God is calling me out of the church's children's ministry, and I'm so excited because I can throw myself into growing our homeschool ministry.  I'm still ministering to children, but it will be my own first of all.  (What a novel idea!)

Austin and Madison are going to be my assistants this week.  Unfortunately, I forgot to even ask them if they wanted to do this.  They're getting old enough to give me input.  I apologized to them for assuming they would want to help me this week.  I took this on and drug them with me!  Not a good Mom moment.  I did bring it up to them over the weekend, and Madison was thrilled to help.  Austin immediately brought to my attention the fact I hadn't asked first.  When I told him I was counting their assistance as school days, he changed his tune.  Whew!

Another project we are doing today is tie-die hats.  We're taking cloth painter's hats, covering them with designs using Sharpie Markers, then spraying with isopropyl alcohol.  The designs start bleeding and looking like tie-dye.  It's really cool!  I'll post some pics later...

Art is so COOL!

Blessings, Lori